The Lion King
2019 · Directed by Jon Favreau
Original language: English
- adventure
- drama
- family
- animation
The story
Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub's arrival. Scar, Mufasa's brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba's exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.
What it’s like
Photorealistic CGI savanna rendered in warm, dusty golden light: sunrise washing over endless grass, fur that catches every highlight, and wide establishing shots of Pride Rock standing against amber and rose skies. The camera glides and cranes through the animal kingdom with the grandeur of a nature documentary, though the animals never emote beyond what their real-world counterparts could show, so expressions come through posture, eyes and scored silences. Hans Zimmer's score swells with African choral voices and drums, and the musical numbers bring bright, bouncy energy to the savanna. The vibe is sun-drenched, awe-struck and wistful, with a grief undercurrent that darkens sharply in the middle act: a stampede, a father's death, and a long stretch of exile in shadowy, sun-bleached wasteland. Intensity is moderate: the death of a major character is shown with real weight, and predator-prey hunts and a few tense confrontations land with genuine menace, but there is no gore and the tone returns to warmth. The pacing is steady and a little stately, built for a family movie night, a comfort rewatch, or a Sunday afternoon with children. It suits viewers who want big-screen spectacle, a classic story of loss and growing up, and gorgeous natural landscapes rendered almost lovingly in digital form.
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